it.

"You cowardly villains!" I screamed at them through the door.
"You think you can frighten me because I am only a poor girl left
alone in the house. You ragamuffin thieves, I defy you both! Our
bolts are strong, our shutters are thick. I am here to keep my
father's house safe, and keep it I will against an army of you!"

You may imagine what a passion I was in when I vapored and
blustered in that way. I heard Jerry laugh and Shifty Dick swear
a whole mouthful of oaths. Then there was a dead silence for a
minute or two, and then the two ruffians attacked the door.

I rushed into the kitchen and seized the poker, and then heaped
wood on the fire, and lighted all the candles I could find; for I
felt as though I could keep up my courage better if I had plenty
of light. Strange and improbable as it may appear, the next thing
that attracted my attention was my poor pussy, crouched up,
panic-stricken, in a corner. I was so fond of the little creature
that I took her up in my arms and carried her into my bedroom and
put her inside my bed. A comical thing to do in a situation of
deadly peril, was it not? But it seemed quite natural and proper
at the time.

All this while the blows were falling faster and faster on the
door. They were dealt, as I conjectured, with heavy stones picked
up from the ground outside. Jerry sang at his wicked work, and
Shifty Dick swore. As I left the bedroom after putting the cat
under cover, I heard the lower panel of the door begin to crack.